The Columbian | Serving Clark County, Washington

This year, we tried something new with our Best of Clark County voting. Certainly, we want to let everyone know about top-notch businesses in our fair county, but we also wanted to give a shout-out to those people and places that help make Clark County the best county in the nation!

You'll excuse our bravado...

FOR THE KIDS

One thing is clear, Clark County has a lot of beloved teachers. Over 200 votes were cast, and nearly that many teachers were mentioned. But one teacher managed to find his way on top: Wayne Mason, a kindergarten teacher at Endeavor Elementary.

"Mr. Mason goes above and beyond just being a teacher," said one voter. "He love his kids and it shows. I am honored and blessed that my son has such an amazing teacher for Kindergarten."

According to the school's website, he enjoys playing basketball and has been in a few different bands. But it's his work with the students, and their parents, that so many voters appreciated.

"The kids (parents too) just love him -- the kids are already reading, doing math, writing in journals. They have A LOT of respect for him."

As mentioned before, Mason isn't the only teacher that parents and students are grateful for. Franklin Elementary teacher Hsin-Yi Hu and Heidi Paveglio at Hazel Dell Elementary also received several votes.

And, as anyone knows, a full stomach is a big part of learning. And what did the voters of Clark County choose as their No. 1 school lunch item? No contest: Cheese Zombie.

That's right, the large, doughy concoction filled with cheese and sometimes dipped in tomato soup was the runaway winner. Clark County isn't the only fan, of course, as a cursory search for a recipe on the internet had over 270,000 returns.

Pizza also had its fair share of votes, and even Taco Bell and Subway had a few votes.

But doesn't that pillow of chewy goodness bring you back to school trays and cartons of milk?

For those kids not quite school-aged, Clark County has several options for daycare or after-school care. But a few names were mentioned several times: Central Park Child Care Center and Kindercare Learning Centers.

Central park Child Care Centers are a full-day site, offering care for children from 4-weeks old to kindergarten. Central Park is part of the Southwest Washington Child Care Consortium, which operates 26 centers in two counties, serving 1,600 children and 2,800 parents.

Kindercare Learning Centers has nine facilities in the county and can offer programs from infants to school-age children. Kindercare also offers Spring, Summer and Winter camps.

Your child's birthday coming up? Trying to figure out something all kids will like? Enjoy having fun?

The voters of Clark County have your answers: Big Al's.

"They have the best packages and amazing hostesses," stated on voter. No kidding.

With several birthday party options involving soda, pizza, cupcakes, bowling and arcade action, Big Al's even takes care of the decorating and invitations if you like.

And, most importantly, "the kids love it!"

Don't forget a gift, though. Kazoodles offers unique, creative and fun toys for all kids. Games, music, stuffed animals, puzzles. If your kids like it, Kazoodles will have it.

But you won't find video games or the like. Kazoodles is dedicated to offering toys that children not only enjoy, but will also aid in their development.

And parents appreciate that. Said one voter: "You can tell that the owners, Mary and Bob, really love what they do, and that they really care about each and every one of their clients!"

SPORTS LIFE

Clark County has had a number of athletes to cheer for, but two names rose to the top in our voting.

Topping the list for favorite local athlete is NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, although as a youngster, he probably wouldn't have had too many fans on Clark County's backroads.

"I lost my license for three years," Biffle said in a 1995 Columbian story. "Got about 25 tickets... six or seven for speeding."

He never did slow down -- just moved his venue. Biffle was the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie of the year award and, later, the series championship. Biffle then duplicated those efforts in the Busch Series, the first ever to win both series.

In 2005, Biffle was the winningest driver of the NASCAR Nextel Cup season, but finished second to Tony Stewart in the final NASCAR Championship tally.

Just a few years after Biffle began to hit it big, another Clark County athlete was starting to rise in his sport. In 1997, Dan Dickau was blazing the nets for the Prairie Falcons, and was named the Washington Class AAA Player of the Year by the Associated Press while at Prairie.

After a stint with the Washington Huskies, Dickau flourished at Gonzaga. In his two years, the Bulldogs won the West Coast Conference and reached the NCAA Tournament. In his senior year, Dickau was named to the All-American first team and was taken in the first round of the NBA draft of 2002.

Dickau's best year in the NBA was while with New Orleans in 2005, when he averaged 13.2 point per game as well as 5.2 assists and 2.7 rebounds, all career highs. Dickau played for six years in the NBA with six different teams.

PERK UP THOSE EARS

Who knew One Tree Hill and Battle Ground had so much in common?

As it turns out, plenty of people. Battle Ground-based Enation -- with frontman Jonathan Jackson, drummer Richard Lee Jackson, Daniel bassist Sweatt, keyboardist Michael Galeotti and guitarist Luke Galeotti -- was voted the Best Local Band, and they certainly aren't hurting for exposure. Jonathan Jackson appears as Lucky Spencer on "General Hospital" and both he and Richard Lee Jackson appeared in a People Magazine World's Sexiest Men issue. Enation's music has been heard on One Tree Hill, General Hospital and even Dog The Bounty Hunter.

But here, it's the local fans that count.

Johnny Limbo and the Lugnuts, Justin Klump and Ruby Hill also had votes.

On the local radio dial, Clark County had a wide range of interests. Leading the way was Lars Larson, a conservative talk show host on 750 KXL. And while his national radio show can be heard from 3-6 p.m. during the week, Larson still concentrates on the "Left Coast" with his Northwest show from noon-3 p.m.

For that morning wake-me-up, Clark County tunes into Bob Miller at KPAM 860. For a different sound in the afternoon, Clark County turns to 105.1 The Buzz to listen to Daria O'Neill on the Daria & Mitch & Ted Show.

And for those who need their fix of sports, Clark County turns the dial to 1080 The Fan and, of the top vote-getters, the only one who lives in Clark County: Jason "Big Suke" Scukanek. Scukanek played football at Mountain View High school and at BYU before enjoying a cup of coffee with a few NFL practice squads.

GET TOGETHER

There are several places throughout Clark County where people like to gather. Big Al's has all the screens one needs to watch the big game and Beaches has that Columbia River view for those wanting to get together after work.

If you're looking to enjoy a glass of wine while listening to live Music, The Rusty Grape Winery is the ticket for Clark County voters.

But it's a park in the heart of downtown Vancouver the picked up the most votes -- which shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who's been to Esther Short Park.

The Six to Sunset concert series, a playground for the smaller children, the annual Wine & Jazz festival for the adults, Lunchtime Lesiure, a water feature... whew. And even when nothing is going, the park provides a nice wide open space to stroll, read a book or just sit and watch people.

And when they're done watching people, Clark County heads next door to the Vancouver Farmer's Market for its fresh produce. "The best of everything" said one voter. "Great Value! Fresh Produce!" said another.

But the market has more than produce, featuring vendors offering such fare as birdhouses, flowers, soap, prints... if it can be made locally, you can probably find it here. And, as one voter stated, its "a wonderful place to take the whole family.”

The newly opened Chuck's Produce, Camas Produce and Battle Ground Produce also received votes.